my thanks

For these guys...

I am incredibly thankful.

Not just for the obvious mommy reasons.

It is true, I am so very thankful for them...

the healthy, intelligent, loving, courageous and amazing kids that they are.

It is some of the other things...

the things that I see, feel and enjoy that I wouldn't have before.

The things I would have missed or taken for granted if it weren't for you two.

How the snow sparkles like glitter on the hood of the cars in the parking lot.

Taking the turns at Target a little too fast causes the carts to pop side wheelies - and thats hilarious.

Any store display of trees, ornaments and lights are magical places.

That you can get a lot of things done in the morning if you are up before the sun.

Saying hello to strangers makes everyone smile.

That a good long rock in the rocking chair can cure almost anything, even an annoyed mommy.

Spontaneous act of kindness between you two makes my heart explode.

My parents are amazing and they are even better than amazing grandparents.

That family is so important, every single one, because family is love.

That your daddy is the coolest daddy on the planet and I am so very lucky to have him.

All of those things are just things from today.

Thank you guys...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Thanks

Thank you for...

sunny days this week

frost making the world sparkly in the mornings

blocks and toys all across my living room floor

a wonderful husband who helps pick them up
babies getting bigger, healthy and strong

Christmas present plotting and planning

grandparents who spoil my babies

parents who, in turn, spoil me

Theodore drool kisses
finding my mommy-of-two groove
Eva conversations that always make me laugh

wrapping paper, bows and tape
Amazon shopping and free shipping

people who put up Christmas lights early

a big pot of soup in the fridge
freezer full of dinner fixings
big meals with our family

surprise Theodore spit-ups on the floor
finding Michaels feet in bed to warm up mine
Eva dressing up in goggles and rain boots

meal planning
new books to read
the ones that are unopened gathering dust

everything cinnamon-y

showers when I can linger and deep condition
Parenthood on Netflix

talking to my mom while I grocery shop
talking to my dad about good deals

knowing they are both just a ring away

a fresh new calendar to fill

writing Eva's third birthday on the first page

a nine year wedding anniversary a few months away

plotting a tenth anniversary trip - passport required
thinking about Michael's first "real" job

Christmas carols while folding laundry

Eva's excited squeals when she sees snowmen
traditions to keep and some to add

Theodore reaching for me to pick him up
snuggling as a family on the couch
and as a couple when the littles are sleeping

having so many things that I set a timer to stop 

being very happy right where I am today
love that comes in big and small ways
and how it multiplies over and over

Cleaned

I did it.

I made a turkey and a half.

And it was yummy.

I cooked a little too much food...

okay, I cooked way too much food.

I was sending people home with entire second meals.

And our fridge is still full to the brim with left overs.

For breakfast I had a dinner roll turkey sandwich and a piece of apple pie.

I tried some with Eva, but she opted for cereal.

The last bit of the dirty dishes are in the dishwasher...

and my slow cooker is making broth as I type.

This year there was a changing of the guard so to speak.

Not just with the cooking...

I now am the keeper of the Turkey Plate.

I remember it sitting on my grandma's table.

It was "ugly as sin" she would say each year...

but Grandpa bought it for her.

He had accidentally broke her china platter one year during the clean-up.

He ran out to buy her a new one the day after Thanksgiving.

This platter is what he came home with...

and so it became the "Ugly Turkey Plate."

The grandkids were allowed to carry it and dry it off.

Grandma hoped it would break and she would get a prettier one.

One without a creepy turkey that stared at her.

One that matched her china.

It never broke.

Over the years, the word ugly was lost.

It really wasn't that ugly and I think Grandma secretly loved it.

When Grandma died, Grandpa got rid of most of the dishes.

He ate out almost every meal and said they were dust collectors.

But he kept the turkey plate.

He gave it to my mom one year.

I didn't understand why it made her cry then, but I do now.

It is worn and and chipped.

Some of the glaze is gone of on the raised parts of turkey's body.

Years of scrapping and carving.

Now it is mine.

When I sent Michael out to the car to bring it in yesterday he said,

"You aren't really going to use that ugly plate, are you?"

He knew it was my grandma's and now my mom's....

but didn't know the whole story of the turkey plate.

It was perfect. 

Thanks

Thank you for this...

Spending time with these two and the rest of the family.

Feeling very blessed, lucky and loved.

Hope you day and weekend is full of good food and your loved ones.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Candy Corn

At great grandma's is it served in a little tin dish

because they make the best rattle noise when you shake it.

On a crochet doily topped coffee table

so little hands can reach it.

Eva fell in love with candy corn last week.

Surprisingly enough, toddlers like sugar.

Great grandma went out right after we left and bought more.

Five pounds more in fact... she wouldn't want to run out.

She would do anything to make Eva smile.

The best part: Eva smiles even before we get in the house.

Just knowing we are at grandma's is enough. 

No candy corn required.

Thank you grandma.

Joining: Amelia's Thankful Thursdays